Chapter 222: Shuning, You’ve Deceived This Prince Again!

Chapter 222: Shuning, You've Fooled Your Prince Again!

"What exactly is this painting? Why won't you say?" Xiao Lingchuan's pressing question snapped Jiang Shuning back to reality.

She looked up, meeting his peach blossom eyes (a distinctive eye shape) full of inquiry, and curled her lips into a mocking smile: "If I tell you, will you really give it to me?"

"Naturally," Xiao Lingchuan said without hesitation. "As long as I have it, there's nothing I wouldn't give. So, what do you truly want?"

What did she want?

In her past life, it would have been his love.

But in this life, she only wanted him as far away from her as possible.

That painting had been nothing but a fabrication to fend off Jiang Yaozhen, so Jiang Shuning naturally couldn't come up with a real reason.

But in her past life, she had once eagerly asked him for a painting.

It happened in his study: she accidentally saw a scroll depicting a strange plant she had never seen before, its leaves covered with mysterious and elegant patterns.

Back then, she was learning to make him a sachet. Thinking he treasured the painting, she naively asked for the painting to embroider the design onto the sachet she was sewing with her own hands.

She remembered how, after she timidly asked, his face went stone cold, and he rebuked her without a trace of warmth.

"You dare ask for this painting? Get out! And never step into my study again!"

Those cruel words still rang in her ears to this day.

Later, Jiang Yaozhen, already Princess Rui, presented him with a sachet on his birthday, embroidered with the very plant she had been scolded for even glancing at.

And he treasured it as if it were a priceless treasure, keeping it close to his chest.

She later saw that plant on the Nanyue jade token—it was a species unique to Nanyue.

So that was it: in his heart, some things Jiang Yaozhen could easily obtain, while she was not even worthy of touching them.

With that thought, Jiang Shuning lifted her eyes to meet his searching gaze and spoke slowly:

"What I want is that painting you once made of a plant. It showed some kind of vegetation with leaves bearing unique patterns."

Xiao Lingchuan thought for a moment, then smiled knowingly: "You mean the Auspicious Grass? It's a plant of good fortune, unique to Nanyue. I did paint a scroll of it once. If you like it, I'll find it and send it to you."

Jiang Shuning's heart felt as if something had gently bumped into it, and for a moment, she was speechless.

She stared at him blankly.

Was that all it took?

In her past life, she had mustered all her courage and carefully asked, only to receive a cold rebuke.

In this life, with just a few casual words, he so lightly promised it to her.

The stark contrast left her momentarily stunned.

Xiao Lingchuan's smile faded, and he leaned forward slightly, bringing the question back to the point: "I'm just curious—how could a simple painting of Auspicious Grass be tied to your reputation?"

Jiang Shuning coughed lightly and mumbled vaguely: "…I just made it up on the spot, and Princess Rui simply took it seriously."

"Is that so?" Xiao Lingchuan's lips curved into a cold smile.

"Jiang Yaozhen may not be the brightest, but she's no fool who can be easily manipulated. For a mere painting, even if it were about your reputation, she wouldn't have risked my wrath by sending someone to break into my residence in the dead of night."

His gaze turned as sharp as a blade, locking onto her as he spoke each word deliberately:

"Shuning, you're deceiving me."

Jiang Shuning's heart tightened, but she quickly steadied herself.

"Your Highness, the truth doesn't matter. What matters is the promise I gave Princess Rui. I told her that if she found that painting, I could help her get what she wanted. I just didn't expect she'd be so desperate as to break into your residence and even set your kitchen on fire."

"Get what she wanted?" Xiao Lingchuan's peach blossom eyes narrowed dangerously, locking onto her. "What exactly does Jiang Yaozhen desire so much that she would go this far?"

"Doesn't Your Highness know? Didn't you promise it to her in your past life, after all?" Jiang Shuning leaned closer, letting out a cold sneer. "Naturally, it's the title of Empress of Daye!"

Xiao Lingchuan's eyes darkened.

The scene from their past life—when he and Jiang Yaozhen were talking behind the screen and Jiang Shuning witnessed it—suddenly flashed into his mind.

That was the first and only time Jiang Shuning had ever lost her temper with him like that.

And then, right before his eyes, she coughed up blood and died, leaving him no chance to explain himself.

Xiao Lingchuan's chest tightened, and an overwhelming pain threatened to swallow him whole.

Just then, Chancellor Jiang and Madam Jiang entered the reception hall.

Seeing their daughter standing so close to Prince Jing, their postures so intimate it was almost inappropriate, Madam Jiang was about to say something when Chancellor Jiang pulled her aside.

"Husband, what's going on with Ning'er? Didn't she say she didn't want to marry Prince Jing? Then why is she so close to him now…?"

Chancellor Jiang replied, "Ning'er has her own plans. If she doesn't want to marry Prince Jing now, she must have her reasons. As her parents, we should respect her decision."

Madam Jiang worried, "I'm just worried about Ning'er's reputation…"

"Don't worry, my dear. Prince Jing is a man with a sense of propriety. He won't make things difficult for our Ning'er," Chancellor Jiang reassured her.

He had a bit of selfishness.

Among the princes in the court, in terms of talent, power, and character, only this Prince Jing could match his precious pearl.

If Prince Jing truly became his son-in-law, he would be thrilled.

In the flower hall, the air seemed to freeze.

Xiao Lingchuan spoke with difficulty: "I have to explain to you that everything between Jiang Yaozhen and me in the past life was nothing more than mere…"

"Is Your Highness trying to say that you were just playing along with her, using each other, and that there was no real affection?" Jiang Shuning's sneer deepened. "Your Highness is an excellent actor. Even I was fooled by you in my past life. Who can guarantee that everything in this life isn't just another one of your acts?"

Once bitten, twice shy.

Having been deceived and hurt before, how could she easily trust someone who was so skilled at putting on an act?

Xiao Lingchuan felt as if something were lodged in his throat, unable to utter a single word.

He had never felt so powerless and defeated before.

No matter how many explanations he gave, they would only be a pathetic cover-up for the truth.

After a long while, he finally spoke: "I'll skip the tea. I'll return to the mansion to find that painting of the Auspicious Grass for you."

The way he rose and left exuded a silent stiffness and defeat.

Jiang Shuning watched him, not missing this opportunity, and delivered the final blow as he walked away with an almost cruel calmness:

"I suppose you won't be coming to the Jiang residence for meals anymore, will you?"

He turned, his previously dim gaze sharpened with an indisputable edge: "How can that be? I promised Chancellor Jiang."

Jiang Shuning's temper flared.

Even after all that was said, how could he still be so shameless?

Xiao Lingchuan returned to his mansion and went straight to the study.

Inside, the servants were still carefully cleaning up the objects that had been ransacked.

He immediately spotted the scroll that lay on the table, still bearing traces of ash.

He walked over, bent down to pick it up, and slowly unrolled it.

The familiar pattern of the Auspicious Grass on the painting came clearly into view.

This is it.

The painting that Jiang Shuning wanted.

He summoned a servant: "Where was this painting found?"

The servant replied: "Your Highness, this painting was thrown to the ground by the thief earlier. I only just picked it up and put it away."

Thrown to the ground?

A dark glint suddenly flashed in Xiao Lingchuan's eyes. His long fingers clenched abruptly, crumpling the scroll in his palm.

Shuning, you tricked me again!

What Jiang Yaozhen sent people to search for in the prince's mansion wasn't this painting at all!